1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 3 · The Status Quo · 33 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 3 · Chapter 9: Brahmā’s Prayers for Creative Energy
3.9.13.9.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.9.2

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 3.9.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

रूपं यदेतदवबोधरसोदयेन

शश्वन्निवृत्ततमस: सदनुग्रहाय ।

आदौ गृहीतमवतारशतैकबीजं

यन्नाभिपद्मभवनादहमाविरासम् ॥ २ ॥

rūpaṁ yad etad avabodha-rasodayena

śaśvan-nivṛtta-tamasaḥ sad-anugrahāya

ādau gṛhītam avatāra-śataika-bījaṁ

yan-nābhi-padma-bhavanād aham āvirāsam

Translation

The form which I see is eternally freed from material contamination and has advented to show mercy to the devotees as a manifestation of internal potency. This incarnation is the origin of many other incarnations, and I am born from the lotus flower grown from Your navel home.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Form Is Always Spiritual

  1. 1

    The Lord’s form is eternally free from material contamination. He manifests through His internal potency to show mercy to devotees.

  2. 2

    The incarnations of Viṣṇu expand for the transcendental happiness of pure devotees. They are never on the level of conditioned souls or deities like Brahmā and Śiva.

  3. 3

    Brahmā, the first living being, was born from the lotus growing from Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. Spiritual nature has a completely separate existence from material nature.

Key points from the purport
  • The three deities Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara (Śiva), the executive heads of the three modes of material nature (passion, goodness and ignorance), are all generated from Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, who is described herein by Brahmā.
  • From the Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, many Viṣṇu incarnations expand at different ages in the duration of the cosmic manifestation.
  • Brahmā is the first living being, and therefore he mentions his birth from the lotus flower generated from the abdomen of Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Mystery → Cosmic wonder. The origin of the world is revealed through inquiry and divine grace.

Chapters 5–12 of Canto 3: Creation and Brahmā's bewilderment. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 9: Brahmā’s Prayers for Creative Energy

Brahmā prays for mercy and creative power, and the Lord instructs and blesses him.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. rūpamform
  2. yatwhich
  3. etatthat
  4. avabodha-rasaof Your internal potency
  5. udayenawith the manifestation
  6. śaśvatforever
  7. nivṛttafreed from
  8. tamasaḥmaterial contamination
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 3.9

    In this verse: “contamination”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.9

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.9

    In this verse: “devotees”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does knowing that the Lord’s form is entirely spiritual affect my understanding of Him?

Practice

Read the translation slowly and pause to remember that the Lord manifests His form out of mercy for devotees.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Form Is Always SpiritualThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 3.9.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories